Loweswater and Lorton, North Lakes

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Alfred Wainwright characterizes the rolling western foothills near Loweswater as pleasant, quiet walking country with smooth, grassy slopes that are less severe and less crowded than the high crags. This is still true today and there are a number of good rides in the Loweswater area. 

This ride takes in quiet lanes, lonnings (local name for green lanes/unregistered roads marked on OS map as green dots) and bridleways. Starting from Lorton go up the hill and take the lonnings track north of Fellbarrow for about 2.5 miles. This brings you out on a quiet lane where you turn left and head towards Loweswater. This then leads to another long Lonnings track, which eventually come out in Loweswater. Here you can go straight on, but we cut the corner off by picking up the bridleway. Once down on the road turn right and pick up the bridleway through Hudson Place and through the woods around Loweswater. This brings you out on the road and then it quiet lanes all the way back to Lorton.















Useful Info

Length of ride – 10 to 12 miles (depending on where you start from)

Things to note – many of the tracks are stoney and can be slippy after rain so if your horse is barefoot you may like to use hoof boots. There are gates and you may like to get off to do some of them. I would recommend taking a long lead rope so you can give yourself extra space to manoeuvre through some of these gates.

Parking - We did this from our lovely B & B accommodation Swinside End Farm, Lorton. You could also park at:
  • The National Trust car park at Scalehill Bridge, Loweswater (what3word ///tunes.clipboard.starch) . This is a very busy car park so if at the weekend get there early. 
  • Park is the layby off A5086 at Mockerkin Tarn (What3Word location ///logs.clumped.list)
  • Layby on the lane adjacent to Loweswater (What3Word location ///squeaks.smoker.reliving or ///luggage.weekends.entrusted)

Refreshments - Lunch, hot and cold drinks could be taken at the Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater, but you may like to book for food as it does get busy.

Horse friendly overnight accommodation - Swinside End Farm, Lorton B & B with a field for the horses https://www.swinsideendfarm.co.uk/ 

A GPX file of this ride can be downloaded from Ride Cumbria Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/367414084781168

Route can also be found on the OS mapping app or web, link to route -  https://explore.osmaps.com/route/14611116/loweswater-and-lorton?lat=54.59942&lon=-3.34401&zoom=12.6962&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=TopoAuto&type=2d

Other Rides in the Area

Ride around Buttermere - See other blog post for these details.

The Lower and Upper Bridleways of Loweswater - Another good ride in the area takes in the upper bridleway above Loweswater in addition to the route around the shores of Loweswater. This route runs parallel to the shore route but higher up on the fell and is a mix of grass and stone track with a beck crossing. The path is a traditional terrace with a slope dropping away on one side. There is one fairly steep section, but it is very doable, but would rate this ride as moderate.  This upper bridleway is also an alternative to the shore bridleway on the main route described above.  The ride can be done from the parking as outlined above and has the most amazing views with a little bit of height. 

 OS mapping link for the app or web -
 https://explore.osmaps.com/route/32578693/loweswater-upper-and-lower-bridleways?lat=54.58332&lon=-3.38103&zoom=13.3213&style=Leisure&type=2d&overlays=os-obstacles-layer

Views from the upper Loweswater Bridleway

Loweswater Upper Bridleway 

This part is quite steep, but a good track under hoof














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